The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Police call for calm after zip wire row turns nasty
Community: Dispute over £3.5m proposals for Kinlochleven attraction
POLICE have appealed for calm as tensions surrounding plans to create a £3.5 million zip wire threaten to tear a Highlands community apart.
Proposals to build the attraction at Kinlocheven have proven so divisive that personal attacks and threats have been made between those for and against the development.
And a local councillor has claimed that neighbours who once lived quietly side by side in the Lochaber community have now turned against one another because of the controversial project. In one incident, two women walking their dogs were verbally attacked by a protester.
Lochaber area Inspector Isla Campbell said: “We are aware of local tensions regarding the planning application and have been in contact with representatives from the local community.”
If built, the zip wire will be the longest in Scotland and likely to attract more than 45,000 people to the village each year.
Calls have been made for calm over plans for a £3.5 milllion zip-wire project in Kinlochleven.
Claims have been made to the authorities of threatening behaviour between neighbours and incorrect procedure in the planning process, while the applicant claims “false information” is being touted by a social media protest group.
Lochaber area inspector Isla Campbell said: “At this time nothing of a criminal nature has been reported to police.
“That said, I would urge people to be mindful of how they conduct themselves online and to ensure their comments are not offensive or hurtful to others.”
It is claimed the project will create 35-40 jobs, but objectors say the infrastructure does not exist for it to be built.
The longest of the two wires will span 1,619 yards – almost a mile – from the Mamores to a pontoon in Loch Leven, becoming the longest of its kind in Scotland.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, chairman of Lochaber area committee, is calling for calm, in what he describes as “personal attacks” between neighbours who once lived quietly beside each other.
In one incident yesterday, understood to have been reported to police, two women walking their dogs were allegedly verbally attacked. Mr Baxter said: “I am very concerned about the tone of debate going on in the village, and especially on social media.”
A community meeting held this week saw more than 150 people come out to debate the issue and to hear about the plans.
Stephen Connelly, of Kinlochleven Adventures Ltd, the developer of the project, said: “The general consensus after the meeting was that it went very well.
“My concern is that some items on social media are giving false information about the project, and that is creating some of the bad feeling.”
Yvonne Rosie, the Kinlochleven Community Council chairwoman, said: “At the meeting there was a good debate and everyone seemed to be able to talk, and put their point over. I am concerned about the conversations going on in the village. There is no need to personally attack anyone.”
Objector Tracy Connell said: “There has been no consultation prior to the application going into the council, and this is a threat to village life.”
Mrs Connell’s husband Terry added: “The reason there was a public meeting was because I went and asked the community council for one.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman confirmed there was no requirement for pre-application consultation in this case.